Pacquiao to get P30,000 incentive from General Santos City

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines -- Even with his estimated combined earnings of $8 million for his rematch with Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, World Boxing Council Super Featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will still receive a P30,000 cash incentive from the General Santos city government.

Ernesto Quisay, chief of staff of Mayor Pedro Acharon, said the incentive was based on an existing city ordinance.

A few years back, the city council passed an ordinance which seeks to give cash incentive to any athlete who wins a major title.

Dong Gonzales of the City Sports Division said that under the ordinance, winning a world boxing title, as Pacquiao did, entitles him to receive P30,000 cash incentive.

Gonzales, however, clarified that the cash incentive will be given to the beneficiary this coming December during the awarding rites.

In the past, Pacquiao had received the same token from the city government after winning major world boxing title. The amount, however, was turned over by the Filipino boxing icon to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation.

The General Santos-born boxing superstar is known to be generous. Every time he returns home from winning boxing fights abroad, people, including the bloating number of his relatives, from far and near, line up outside his residence to ask for "balato."

And, he never disappoints them. He distributes not just cash but also rice and grocery items.

Meanwhile, Quisay said everything has already been set for the hero's welcome intended for Pacquiao.

Quisay added that his office was still confirming with the boxer the exact date of his homecoming here.